A 16-year-old boy sobbed in the dock as he appeared in court charged with the murder of his six-week-old son who suffered "head injuries and a bite to the nose".

Police were called to a mother-and-child residential unit in Defender Road, Southampton, Hampshire, at 5.05am on Sunday where the infant boy was found with "significant injuries".

The child was taken to Southampton General Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The teenage defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was supported by his mother as he appeared at Southampton Magistrates' Court charged with murder.

Dan O'Neill, prosecuting, told the court that the baby had suffered "a bite to the nose and injuries to the head".

District Judge Lorraine Morgan adjourned the case for the next hearing to be held at Winchester Crown Court on Thursday and ordered the defendant to be held in youth detention accommodation until then.

She told him: "The case will be sent to Winchester Crown Court, you will be remanded into secure accommodation until that appearance."

As the teenager was led from court, he said to his mother "love you" to which she replied: "Love you, darling."

An 18-year-old woman, who was also arrested on suspicion of murder, has been released by police but remains under investigation, according to a Hampshire police spokeswoman.